Cultural organisation Wrishiz Shilpi Gosthi arranged a discussion and cultural programme on Thursday at Liberation War Museum to celebrate South African leader Nelson Mandela’s 95th birthday.
Information minister Hasanul Haq Inu, communist party leader Munjurul Ahsan Khan, essayist Mafidul Haque, actor Jhuna Chowdhury, Nader Chowdhury and Golam Kuddus spoke on the occasion presided over by Fakir Alamgir, president of Wrishiz Shilpi Gosthi.
All the speakers spoke highly of Mandela as a figure and an icon against oppression. They said that Mandela has been an ideal politician who dedicated his life including 27 years in prison, for a cause and the anti-apartheid movement.
The speakers opined that South Africa, a country previously plagued by apartheid practices, has been able to break the curse of racism only because of the dynamic political activities of Mandela who was the first black president (from 1994 to 1999) of the country.
The speakers also prayed for recovery of 95 year old Mandela who is currently hospitalised in Pretoria for old age complications.
The discussion session and cultural performances were merged into one programme. Each speaker’s speech was followed by recitation and music recitals.
The audience present at the programme enjoyed Fakir Almgir’s self-composed song Oshubhake tumi hariye diyechho.
Udichi Shilpi Gosthi entertained the audience with Bhupen Hazarika’s famous song Amay ekta sada manush and Lanchito nipirito jonotar joi.
Kranti Shilpi Gosthi presented Bhupen Hazarika’s another famous song Dirghojibi hok Mandela, whereas Satyen Sen Shilpi Goshthi presented Aguner poroshmoni.
Rezina Wali Lina’s recitation of Tagore’s famous poem Africa and Ajoy Dasgupta’s Joyotu Mandela were also well received by the audience. Rafikul Islam also got applauses for reciting Amiya Chakrabarty’s Neelkantha.
Nelson Mandela was born on July 18 in 1918.
-With New Age input
